Dexter Torsion Axle Lift Kit

[GettinAway]

I did not lose any mpg when lifting the 25FB. I did lose mpg when I changed my Tundra.
Heavier tires, and changing out the shocks (which lifted the front an inch or so) cost me a mile or two per gallon. I’ve seen no negative effects from lifting our airstream.

[ASFC25_2019]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

I did not lose any mpg when lifting the 25FB. I did lose mpg when I changed my Tundra.
Heavier tires, and changing out the shocks (which lifted the front an inch or so) cost me a mile or two per gallon. I’ve seen no negative effects from lifting our airstream.

Thank you for the information. I installed a lift kit on my Expedition, and it cost me 5-8 MPG while towing. was concerned about the lift kit on the trailer. A lift kit on the trailer will make it the same height as the Expedition so it might actually help MPG a little.

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by ASFC25_2019

Thank you for the information. I installed a lift kit on my Expedition, and it cost me 5-8 MPG while towing. was concerned about the lift kit on the trailer. A lift kit on the trailer will make it the same height as the Expedition so it might actually help MPG a little.

I'm not quite sure the vehicle's lift-kit alone would drop your mpg that much; however, change in tires sure could. (Larger tires, did you adjust your speedometer/odometer to account for the shift in tire size?)

My AT4 already has a 'built in lift' (but sure, there are some people who lift them further); I concur, I felt like having a lift on my AS helped it line up well w/ my truck. I couldn't make it in/out of my driveway w/o it. It behaves well as far as on-road manners, etc.

[ASFC25_2019]

Originally Posted by LNBright

I'm not quite sure the vehicle's lift-kit alone would drop your mpg that much; however, change in tires sure could. (Larger tires, did you adjust your speedometer/odometer to account for the shift in tire size?)

My AT4 already has a 'built in lift' (but sure, there are some people who lift them further); I concur, I felt like having a lift on my AS helped it line up well w/ my truck. I couldn't make it in/out of my driveway w/o it. It behaves well as far as on-road manners, etc.

I have held off on the larger tire for the Expedition maybe the next set.

What is the max tire size / wheels you can add after install the trailer light kit (add 3 inches of height). OEM is 15’s can you goto 16 or 17?

[switz]

Before leaving the selling dealership, we upgraded our 2015 23D International Serenity from the OEM 14" GYM and 14" wheels to 15" Michelins (now 235/75/R15 XL 109T) and 15" SenDel T03-56545T wheels with Centramatic wheel balancers. They just fit. The following year, Airstream made 15" tires and wheels standard.

We recently installed new Dexter 3,600 pound axles with their 3" lift kit and 12" dual puck disc brakes. One could now install 16" tires and wheels, but that is totally not necessary for a 23D that scales 6,063 pounds with a 928 pound tongue weight. The heaviest tire load is 1,376 pounds and the 10% derated for tailer use load rating is 2,044 pounds.

Tongue………928
Front….1,280……1,246 - total front axle 2,526
Rear…..1,376……1,233 - total rear axle 2.609
Total Axles………5,135
Total Trailer….6,063

We installed the factory recommended 16" Michelin LT225/75R16/E LTX M/S2 tires rated 2,680 pounds on SenDel T03-66655M wheels with Centramatic wheel balancers on our 2014 31' Classic at the storage unit as soon as I got it home. They are more than adequate for the job. Run 75 psi on the latest version of the tire.

They fit fine on all wide body airstreams 25' and longer as they were offered at the factory delivery center as upgrades.

Our Classic numbers:

……1200……——1200

2034……2042—4076

1921…….2062—3983

Total weight——9259

There is a relatively new to the US Michelin tire I am just learning about, the Michelin Agilis Crossclimates 225/75R16C. This may of interest the next tire change because one could possibly use lower tire pressure.

We recently upgraded the Classic to new 5,200 pound rated axles with 3" lift and 12" dual puck disc brakes and reused the Centramatic wheel balancers. So the different geometry of the new tire could still work.

[switz]

Here is an upload of the tire load chart for the Michelin 225/75R16C E tire.

The new series LT225/75R16E 115/112R E has a max load of 2,680 pounds at 90 psi on the load table. The capacity drops to 2,470 at 80 psi. The capacity drops to 2,330 at 75 psi. The capacity drops to 2,220 at 70 psi.

I use 75 psi so that is a load margin of just over 11%. My heaviest loaded tire is at 2062 pounds.

If I switch to these new generation tires (which are much more expensive at around $300 each) I could use 60 psi for the tire and have a load margin of 24%. I even could drop back to 55 psi.

The 2220 load point is at 70 psi on the LT tire and 55 psi on the C tire. Would be a much softer ride for the coach at 55 psi than 70 psi.

There is a lot more to learn.

[nickclifford]

hi ... on this topic, I just bought a single axle '76 Argosy .. I'd bought my last axles from Colin Hyde, is this still the best option? I'm in Ca ..

thanks

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by ASFC25_2019

I have held off on the larger tire for the Expedition maybe the next set.

What is the max tire size / wheels you can add after install the trailer light kit (add 3 inches of height). OEM is 15’s can you goto 16 or 17?

You can go to the 16" wheels w/o a lift. As I'm not tryin to 'offroad' my AS, if I went to 16" wheels, I'd stick w/ standard available Michelin. (Haven't even considered or thought about 17" wheels.)

[Hittenstiehl]

Yes Nick, Colin is still in business and a go to for axel's.

[Dspchef]

I purchase the 3" lift kit with a new set of axles for our 76 Excella. I purchased mine from High Sky RV and had a great experience. I just called them up, told them the year and model and they took care of the rest. I couple of weeks later, I had to drive to the closest Redneck Trailer Supply to pick them up.

Here is a link to my YouTube channel about my installation.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyyKNMGpt5M

[JetstreamAS]

Originally Posted by switz

Here is an upload of the tire load chart for the Michelin 225/75R16C E tire.

The new series LT225/75R16E 115/112R E has a max load of 2,680 pounds at 90 psi on the load table. The capacity drops to 2,470 at 80 psi. The capacity drops to 2,330 at 75 psi. The capacity drops to 2,220 at 70 psi.

I use 75 psi so that is a load margin of just over 11%. My heaviest loaded tire is at 2062 pounds.

If I switch to these new generation tires (which are much more expensive at around $300 each) I could use 60 psi for the tire and have a load margin of 24%. I even could drop back to 55 psi.

The 2220 load point is at 70 psi on the LT tire and 55 psi on the C tire. Would be a much softer ride for the coach at 55 psi than 70 psi.

There is a lot more to learn.

Switz-

You are correct. We run the C and the ride is way better at the lower PSI than it was with the other Agilis.

[BayouBiker]

What method did either of you use to determine the ride was softer with equivalent trailer loads and pressures set to corresponding guidance? Did you determine the tire spring rates? If so what were they? Did you use an accelerometer in the trailer? and run them over similar road conditions? this would be great information and it would be helpful in consideration of a lift kit as well.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by switz

Here is an upload of the tire load chart for the Michelin 225/75R16C E tire.

The new series LT225/75R16E 115/112R E has a max load of 2,680 pounds at 90 psi on the load table. The capacity drops to 2,470 at 80 psi. The capacity drops to 2,330 at 75 psi. The capacity drops to 2,220 at 70 psi.

I use 75 psi so that is a load margin of just over 11%. My heaviest loaded tire is at 2062 pounds.

If I switch to these new generation tires (which are much more expensive at around $300 each) I could use 60 psi for the tire and have a load margin of 24%. I even could drop back to 55 psi.

The 2220 load point is at 70 psi on the LT tire and 55 psi on the C tire. Would be a much softer ride for the coach at 55 psi than 70 psi.

There is a lot more to learn.

Switz, your figures for the LT agilis are not correct. They are 2680# @ 80 psi, with a max pressure of 90 psi. This was discussed in another thread, in which CapriRacer participated.

[BayouBiker]

Good point Rich, using the correct table the corresponding pressures are 55 psi vs. 63 psi. I'm guessing no tests were performed at those pressures. It's a shame. Given the C-metric has an extra steel belt, it could be the C-metric at 55psi is stiffer or most likely similar to the LT at 63 psi.

[switz]

Here are the Michelin tire data charts from their website for the Michelin LT225/R16 E and 225/R16 C tires.

Note that the new series LT225/R16 E is rated 2,470 at 80 psi and 2,680 pounds at 90 psi. The older series of this tire were rated the 2,680 pounds at 80 psi.

The 225/R16 C metric is rated 3,085 pounds at 80 psi and 3,195 pounds at 83 pi.

I think their published data sheets are the appropriate reference points for discussions. I called Michelin a few months back and they did not refute that comment.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by switz

Here are the Michelin tire data charts from their website for the Michelin LT225/R16 E and 225/R16 C tires.

Note that the new series LT225/R16 E is rated 2,470 at 80 psi and 2,680 pounds at 90 psi. The older series of this tire were rated the 2,680 pounds at 80 psi.

The 225/R16 C metric is rated 3,085 pounds at 80 psi and 3,195 pounds at 83 pi.

I think their published data sheets are the appropriate reference points for discussions. I called Michelin a few months back and they did not refute that comment.

Page 23 here:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.michelinb2b.com/wps/b2bcontent/PDF/RV_Tires_Brochure.pdf


I don't know why it is so difficult to find consistent and accurate information on tire company websites. It seem like that across the industry.

Edit: Sorry, you have to copy and paste the above to get the PDFs.

Switz, could you provide the actual link to your attachments? Another question for CapriRacer, perhaps.

[dznf0g]

This thread discusses this "Confusion". Post #24 by CapriRacer explains it.....mostly

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f43...on-239900.html

[BayouBiker]

Interesting. Here is a chart that represents industry standard loads based on load index and load range. http://www.dmbruss.com/images/FullTi...ires/img1C.jpg

By the standard a load range "E" tire has its maximum rated load at 80psi

The newer standard is load index where maximum load is specified by the index and the value applies at what ever pressures is the maximum inflation pressure.

So either the new guidance from Michelin is inconsistent with sidewall labeling assuming the new LT is labeled 115 load index and "E" Load Range or the tire is not truly a load range E tire by industry standard. I suppose its possible Micheline is describing it as a Load Range E tire when it is not....

[Action]

Thread being closed because off topic.
This is an axle thread that has run it's

Action